Building automation system with edge processing diversity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building automation systems are complex and require numerous devices and protocols, leading to increased complexity and reduced interoperability between different building devices, making it difficult to integrate and maintain systems across various facilities of different sizes.
Innovation Solution
A rooftop unit equipped with air conditioning components and circuitry that executes expression-based event processing logic and a machine learning algorithm, allowing for pattern recognition, fault diagnosis, and prediction, with the ability to communicate with a cloud system and adapt to remote updates, while maintaining a low memory footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional building automation systems use complex architectures with multiple devices and protocols, then system functionality is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data model that enables a single standardized interface to communicate with multiple different building devices and systems. The common data model acts as a universal translator that can represent various device types (HVAC, lighting, security) using unified data structures, eliminating the need for separate communication protocols for each device type and reducing architectural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer consisting of the common data model and standardized communication interface that sits between the control system and diverse building devices. This intermediary translates device-specific protocols into a universal format, allowing the control system to interact with multiple device types through a single standardized interface, thereby reducing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional building automation systems integrate diverse devices with different protocols, then system versatility is improved, but interoperability between devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by standardizing data representation across all device types. The common data model ensures that data from different devices (thermostats, sensors, actuators) is represented using consistent data structures, data types, and naming conventions. This homogeneous approach enables reliable interoperability while maintaining the ability to support diverse device types.
3Adaptability or versatility
If building automation systems are manually configured by field technicians, then system customization is improved, but installation time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated configuration capabilities. The system can automatically discover devices on the network, retrieve their capabilities through standardized interfaces, and configure itself without requiring manual intervention from field technicians. This self-configuration process maintains customization while dramatically reducing installation time and labor requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining standardized data models, communication protocols, and configuration templates that are prepared in advance. These pre-configured frameworks enable the system to automatically configure itself during installation rather than requiring manual setup, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining customization capabilities through the standardized interfaces.
4Reliability
If building automation systems use standardized data models, then interoperability is improved, but handling of complex device-specific functionality becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data representation into two layers: a standardized common data model for basic interoperability and device-specific extensions for specialized functionality. The common data model handles universal operations and data exchange, while device-specific capabilities are represented as extensions or additional data elements that build upon the standardized foundation, allowing both interoperability and device-specific functionality to coexist.
Data Source
AI summary
A rooftop unit includes a housing, air conditioning components coupled to the housing, and circuitry enclosed within and/or coupled to the housing and programmed to execute a control logic for the air conditioning components, an expression-based event processing logic, and a machine learning algorithm.